Play Puss In Boots (E) Online

I picked up Puss in Boots for the Nintendo DS back in 2011, a time when licensed games were still a common sight on the handheld. Published by THQ, it was one of those tie-ins that tried to capture the movie's energy, a straightforward action platformer you could play in short bursts. It fit right in with the era's library, a game you'd grab because you liked the character, not because you expected a revolution.

You control Puss himself, navigating side scrolling levels filled with enemies to slash and platforms to jump across. The main goal is to progress screen by screen, fighting guards and other foes with your sword, occasionally using a context sensitive flourish move for special attacks. You collect gold coins scattered about, and the levels often include light exploration to find hidden items or alternate paths. The pacing is fairly quick, though the controls can feel a bit slippery, making some precision jumps more frustrating than fun. It feels like a competent, if unremarkable, portable adventure that gets the job done.